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The book that is rocking America: Blaming Bush

Richard Clarke, the West Wing warrior who has shocked Washington by accusing the Bush team of negligence, was at the controls in the White House during the dark hours of 9/11  as his unprecedented insiders account reveals

I was at a conference three blocks from the White House when the call came through. It was Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, a member of my counterterrorism staff. She said an aircraft had struck the World Trade Center.

“Until we know what this is, Dick, we should assume the worst.”

“Right. Activate the CSG on secure video. I’ll be there in less than five.”

The CSG was the White House counterterrorism security group. Its members were the leaders of each of the federal government’s counterterrorism and security organisations. I had chaired it since 1992.

Lisa called again: “The other tower was just hit.”

As I pulled my car up to the West Wing door, Paul Kurtz, one of the White House counterterrorism team, ran up. “We were in the morning staff meeting when we heard. Condi told me to find you fast and broke up the meeting. She’s with Cheney.”